Paperboard convertible printer scorer slotter

ABSTRACT

The paperboard printer scorer slotter has a rotatable scoring member between a rotatable slotting member and a rotatable print cylinder. The scoring member has a diameter 50 percent larger than the diameter of the slotting member. Each of the scoring member and slotting member may be used selectively for either scoring or slotting paperboard blanks.

United States Patent [191 Grobman [11] 3,709,111 1 Jan. 9, 1973 [54] PAPERBOARD CONVERTIBLE PRINTER SCORERSLOTTER [75] Inventor: WllllamGrobman, Philadelphia, Pa.

[73] Assignee: Harris lntertype Corporatlon,

Cleveland, Ohio [22] Filed: Sept. 28, 1970 211 App]. No.5 76,146

[52] 0.8. CI. ..93/58.2, 93/49 M, 83/7, 101/224 [51] Int. Cl. ..B3lb 1/14 [58] Field of Search ..93 /1G,-36 M, 49 M, 58 H, I 58.1, 93/582; 83/7; 101/224 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,753,797 7/1956 aug en ..l0l/224X Ward ..93/58.2 X

3,587,374 6/1971 Stewart ..93/58.2 R

Primary ExaminerAndrew R. Juhasz Assistant ExaminerLeon Gilden Attorney-Seidel, Gonda & Goldhammer [57] ABSTRACT The paperboard printer scorer slotter has a rotatable scoring member between a rotatable slotting member and a rotatable print cylinder. The scoring member has a diameter 50 percent larger than the diameter of the slotting member. Each of the scoring member and slotting member may be used selectively for either scoring or slotting paperboard blanks.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Pmmranm ems 3.709.111

SHEET 1 BF 2 '//v VEN 70R WIL L IAM GROBMAN ATTORNEYS PATENTEBJAN 9|973 3.709.111

//v l/EN TOR WILL/AM anoamw MM mwm ATTORNEYS PAPERBOARD CONVERTIBLE PRINTER SCORER SLOTTER The present invention is generally directed to a printer scorer slotter capable of being used for extended slotting of paperboard blanks. Machines of this nature are known to the art. For example, see U. S. Pat. No. 3,031,937.

A standard machine of this type is adapted to print, score and slot paperboard blanks of a size whereby the leading edge of one blank is less than the circumferential distance of the upper slotting head from the leading edge of the next blank. For instance: a 50 inch machine has an upper slotter head circumference of 50 inches. The distance between the leading edges of two blanks is 50 inches when feeding in the regular mode; that is, one blank for every revolution of the slotter head. When blanks larger than 50 inches in the direction of travel are processed through this machine,

it is necessary to skip feed; that is, to feed one sheet for every other revolution of the slotter head. The distance between the leading edge of two blanks would then be 100 inches. Scoring and slotting occurs on every other cycle with the speed of output being only 50 percent of that obtainable with normal operation.

The skip feed mode of operation imposes certain limitations on the size of slots in blanks over50 inches in the direction of feed. Since the same knife must be used to cut the leading and trailing slots, only blanks that are 50 inches or less between the leading edge of the blank and the leading edge of the trailing slot can be accommodated. In order to circumvent the slotting limitations of skip feed I use the extended slotting" mode of operation.

The mechanism for facilitating extended slotting as disclosed in said above-mentioned patent performs satisfactorily. However, the mechanism disclosed in said patent has the disadvantage of requiring set-up time of approximately two hours. The present invention reduces the set-up time to approximately fifteen minutes. The mechanism for accomplishing extended slotting as disclosed in said patent is substantially more complicated than that of the present invention.

The advantages of the present invention include a faster set-up time, low cost, simplicity of construction and maintenance, bottom discharge for scrap, and facilitates feeding and handling of paperboard blanks at an elevation corresponding to the elevation of conventional equipment upstream and downstream in the production line.

It is an object of the present invention 'to provide a novel paperboard printer scorer slotter machine.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a printer scorer slotter machine which is convertible for extended slotting of paperboard.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a paperboard printer scorer slotter machine structurally interrelated in a manner so as to be relatively inexpensive, capable of set-up in a rapid manner, and provide for bottom discharge of scrap.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be set forth hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view ofa machine in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a paperboard blank processed by the machine of the present invention.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown in FIG. 1 a paperboard printer scorer slotter machine designated generally as 10. The illustration of the machine 10 has been greatly simplified since the nature of such machines are well known to those skilled in the art. For example, see the disclosure in the above-mentioned patent.

The scoring and slotting section has its own side frames 12 and 14. The printing sections each have their own side frames and are mounted on rollers. The machine opens at the indicated vertical split lines for ready access to set-up the heads for lateral positioning. The side frames may be interconnected at various locations by braces 13. A printed: cylinder 16 is rotatably supported by a shaft 18 extending between and supported by the side frames 12 and 14. A second print cylinder 20 of the same diameter is rotatably supported by means of a shaft 22 extending between and supported by the side frames 12 and 14. Suitable bearings may be provided for rotatably supporting,

shafts 18 and 22 as well as the shafts to be referred to hereinafter.

Print cylinder 16 is provided with a smaller diameter imprint cylinder 24 supported for rotation by means of shaft 26. The print cylinder 20 is similarly provided with a smaller diameter imprint cylinder 28 rotatably supported by shaft 30.

A paperboard blank 32 to be processed by the machine 10 is fed in the direction of arrow 34 so as to move from right-to left in FIG. 1. As the blank 32 is fed between the cylinders 16 and 24, printed matter is applied to the blank 32. If printingin only one color is desired, cylinder 20 and its cooperating cylinder 28 may be eliminated. Feed rollers 36 are provided downstream from the print cylinders 16 and 20.

Assuming that the blank 32 is to be printed in two different colors, the first set of feed rollers 36 will feed the blank 32 between the cylinder 20 and its imprint cylinder 28. Thereafter, the second set of feed rollers 36 will feed the thusly-printed blank 32 to the scoring and slotting mechanisms suitably supported by the side frames 12 and 14.

As shown more clearly in FIGS. 1 and 3, there is provided a circular, rotatable upper scoring member 38 rotatably supported by shaft 40. While only two such members designated as 38 and 38' are shown in FIG. 3, a third such member is similarly supported by shaft 40. Each of members 38 and 38' are provided with a hub releasably connected to the shaft 40 by means of a setscrewor equivalent device whereby the distance between the members 38 and 38' may be adjusted as the size of the blank changes during different production runs.

Below shaft 40 there is provided a shaft 44 which supports a plurality of lower scoring members 42 and 42'. Members 38 and 42 cooperate with one another.

Members 38' and 42 cooperate with one another. The remaining upper and lower scoring members not shown likewise cooperate with each other. Since the cooperation between the upper and lower supporting members is identical, only the relationship between members 38 and 42 will be described in detail.

The outer peripheral surface of member 38 is provided with a scoring recess 46. A scoring ring having a scoring bead 48 is detachably connected to the outer periphery of member 42. The bead 48 is adapted to cooperate with the recess 46 to providescore lines 56 on the blank 32. The score lines 56 are parallel to the direction of travel indicated by arrow 34.

As illustrated and referred to above, the scoring recess is provided on the periphery of the upper member 38. If desired, the scoring recess could be part ofa detachable ring. It would be within the scope of the present invention to reverse the position of the scoring bead and recess whereby the scoring bead 48 is supported by member 38 and a matching recess 46 provided on the periphery of member 42.

The scoring members 38 and 42 are convertible from a position wherein they apply score lines 56 to a position wherein they cut the slots 58 and 62 in the blank 32. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the scoring members 38 and 42 are orientated with respect to one another for purposes of cutting the slots 48 and 62.

A circular slot 51 is provided in side face 53 of the member 38. As shown more clearly in FIG. 3, the slot 51 is T-shaped in cross-section. The periphery of face 53 is provided with a recess which receives cutting blades 50 and 52. The cutting blades 50 and 52 are detachably interconnected with member 38 by means of bolts having their heads disposed within the portion of slot 51 which is perpendicular to the axis of shaft 40. Blades 50 and 52 are selectively positionable at any desired location around the periphery of member 38.

The scoring member 42 is provided with a peripheral recess receiving a slotting ring 54 having a recess 55. Recess 55 receives the blades 50 and 52 as members 38 and 42 rotate about their respective axes. Blade 50 may be utilized to cut the slots 58 in the lead edge 60 ofthe blank 32 while blade 52 may be utilized to cut the slots 62in the trailing edge 64 of blank 32.

As shown more clearly in FIGS. 1 and 2, there is provided a shaft 68 for rotatably supporting a plurality of upper slotting members 66, 66', and a third such member, not shown. Each of these members is detachably and adjustably connected to the shaft 68 by means ofa setscrew extending through the hub or other equivalent device whereby the distance between adjacent members may be adjusted as desired. A shaft 72, below shaft 68, supports a plurality of lower slotting members 70, 70, etc., the number of which corresponds to the number of upper slotting members on shaft 68.

The diameter of member 66 is smaller than the diameter of member 38. The scoring member 38 has a diameter which if fifty percent greater than the diameter of member 66.

The outer peripheral surface of member 66 is provided with a scoring recess 74. Recess 74 is adapted to selectively cooperate with a scoring bead on a ring removably attached to the outer periphery of the lower slotting member 70. Member 70 is also provided with a slotting ring 78 substantially identical with ring 54. The slotting ring 78 is provided with a recess 79 on its peripheral surface of receiving slotting blades.

The side face 82 of member 66 is provided with an annular slot 80 which is T-shaped in crosssection as shown more clearly in FIG. 2. The periphery of side face 82 is provided with an annular recess 86 for receiving the blades 50 and 52as will be described hereinafter. Feed rolls 84 may be provided between the members 38 and 66.

Each of the upper members 38 and 66 is selectively and alternatively utilized as a means for slotting or scoring the paperboard blank 32. In the drawings, the machine 10 is illustrated in a manner whereby the scoring member 38 has been converted to effect slotting of the paperboard blank 32. Likewise, member 66 has been converted for effecting scoring the blank 32 to provide the score lines 56. In this orientation, the machine 10 is adapted to process paperboard blanks having a length in the direction of travel between one and one and a half times the circumference of member 66. When the length of the paperboard blank in the direction of travel is less than the circumference of member 66, machine 10 may be converted back to normal operation as follows.

With the machine ltl'inoperative, the blades 50 and 52 will be removed from attachment on the member 38 and similar blades of small radii will be attached to the member 66. The slot 80 and the recess 86 on member 66 are adapted to receive and facilitate removable coupling of the blades to the member 66. Member 70, see FIG. 2, will be adjusted to the phantom position so that the recess 79 will be in a position to accommodate the blades corresponding to blades 50 and 52. Further, member 42 will be adjusted with respect to member 38 so that the bead 48 is opposite the recess 46. Each of the scoring and slotting heads will be similarly modified. Conversion from extended slotting to normal slotting and vice versa is thereby completed. It is to be noted that no shafts are moved, no spare parts are added other than removable blades, and that nothing requires disassembling other than the attachment and detachment of the cutting blades. Thus, conversion from normal slotting to extended slotting and vice versa is rapid and can be accomplished in'one-fourth of the time needed by comparable machines proposed heretofore. I

It is to be noted that the gap between the periphery of the scoring members 38 and 42 and the comparable gap between the periphery of the slotting members 66 and corresponds generally to the thickness of the paperboard blank. Further, it will be noted that at all times the cutter blades are on members disposed above the plane of the paperboard blank so that scrap resulting from the cutting of the slots 58 and 62 may be fed downwardly for collection in a receptacle not shown. Further, it will be noted that the horizontal plane ofthe paperboard blank does not change duringnormal or extended slotting for ease of installation in connection with equipment upstream and downstream of the machine 10.

Theoretically, it is possible to make the scoring members 38, 38', etc. twice the diameter of the slotting members 66, 66', etc. With this design I would have unlimited slotting capacity in skip feed. However, this would increase the minimum size sheet that could be processed. The minimum size sheet which can be processed is defined by the horizontal distance between the axes of member 38 and feed rollers 36.

It is not necessary for the scoring member 38 to be between the slotting member 66 and the print cylinder 20. As a practical matter, it is desirable to score before slotting since slotting is cleaner after the paperboard is scored. However, the machine will function either way.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for slotting and scoring paperboard box blanks comprising a frame supporting first and second upper shafts, said shafts being parallel and mounted for rotation, a member on said first shaft for selectively scoring or slotting paperboard, a member on said second shaft for selectively scoring or slotting paperboard, a mating member on a shaft directly below said first shaft for cooperating with the member on the first shaft to selectively score or slot paperboard, a mating member on a shaft directly below said second shaft for cooperating with the member on the second shaft to selectively score or slot paperboard, each member on said first and second shafts having its periphery spaced from the periphery of its mating member to define a gap through which a paperboard blank may pass while being scored and slotted by said members, means on each of said members on said first and second shafts for removably attaching thereto at least one cutting blade for slotting paperboard blanks therebelow, the diameter of said member on the second shaft being at least 50 percent larger than the diameter of said member on said said first shaft, adjusting means for providing relative movement between each member on the first and second shafts and their related mating members in a direction parallel to said shafts, each mating member being provided with a peripheral recess for receiving a portion of the cutting blade on its mating member thereabove during the peripheral path of movement of the blade, and'each mating member being provided with means to score a paperboard blank in conjunction with a portion of the periphery of the member on one of said upper shafts.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein each mating member is provided with a recess on a face thereof for receiving the last-mentioned means, each mating member having a recess on an opposite face for receiving a slotting ring containing said peripheral recess which receives a portion of the cutting blade.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the axis for said second shaft is at an elevation above the axis for the first shaft and thereby spaced from said gap by a greater distance.

4. A method of scoring and slotting paperboard blanks having a length in the direction of travel which is greater than the circumference of a slotting member comprising scoring the printed blanks, slotting the blanks, the improvement comprising using a rotatable scoring member ad'acent the slotting member with the scoring member lameter being substantially larger than the slotting member diameter, removing at least one cutting blade from the slotting member and attaching at least one cutting blade to the periphery of the scoring member, causing relative movement in an axial direction between said scoring member and a mating member therebelow so that a cutting blade on the scoring member will be received in a'recess on the mating member, causing relativemovement between the slotting member and a mating member therebelow in an axial direction so that a scoring surface on the members is juxtaposed to one another, and using the scoring surface on the slotting members and its mating member to score paperboard blanks as they are fed between the peripheries of said members while using the blade on the scoring member to slot paperboard blanks therebelow, and discharging scrap downwardly. 

1. Apparatus for slotting and scoring paperboard box blanks comprising a frame supporting first and second upper shafts, said shafts being parallel and mounted for rotation, a member on said first shaft for selectively scoring or slotting paperboard, a member on said second shaft for selectively scoring or slotting paperboard, a mating member on a shaft directly below said first shaft for cooperating with the member on the first shaft to selectively score or slot paperboard, a mating member on a shaft directly below said second shaft for cooperating with the member on the second shaft to selectively score or slot paperboard, each member on said first and second shafts having its periphery spaced from the periphery of its mating member to define a gap through which a paperboard blank may pass while being scored and slotted by said members, means on each of said members on said first and second shafts for removably attaching thereto at least one cutting blade for slotting paperboard blanks therebelow, the diameter of said member on the second shaft being at least 50 percent larger than the diameter of said member on said said first shaft, adjusting means for providing relative movement between each member on the first and second shafts and their related mating members in a direction parallel to said shafts, each mating member being provided with a peripheral recess for receiving a portion of the cutting blade on its mating member thereabove during the peripheral path of movement of the blade, and each mating member being provided with means to score a paperboard blank in conjunction with a portion of the periphery of the member on one of said upper shafts.
 2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein each mating member is provided with a recess on a face thereof for receiving the last-mentioned means, each mating member having a recess on an opposite face for receiving a slotting ring containing said peripheral recess which receives a portion of the cutting blade.
 3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the axis for said second shaft is at an elevation above the axis for the first shaft and thereby spaced from said gap by a greater distance.
 4. A method of scoring and slotting paperboard blanks having a length in the direction of travel which is greater than the circumference of a slotting member comprising scoring the printed blanks, slotting the blanks, the improvement comprising using a rotatable scoring member adjacent the slotting member with the scoring member diameter being substantially larger than the slotting member diameter, removing at least one cutting blade from the slotting member and attaching at least one cutting blade to the periphery of the scoring member, causing relative movement in an axial direction between said scoring member and a mating member therebelow so that a cutting blade on the scoring member will be received in a recess on the mating member, causing relative movement between the slotting member and a mating member therebelow in an axial direction so that a scoring surface on the members is juxtaposed to one another, and using the scoring surface on the slotting members and its mating member to score paperboard blanks as they are fed between the peripheries of said members while using the blade on the scoring member to slot paperboard blanks therebelow, and discharging scrap downwardly. 